A change in the process: Local, area athletes adjust to workouts without facilities

Carlos Silva Jr

Saturday

Apr 11, 2020 at 5:00 PM

Jake Gilbert knew his life would change.

The junior linebacker heard the news, just like the rest of his Frenship teammates, that the UIL suspended competition until March 29 due to the outbreak of the coronavirus.

At first the news, while devastating, did not affect Gilbert considering he may still have the chance to be around his teammates before the summer. But, those thoughts were dashed when the date was pushed back to May 4 with the added factor of not being able to use their high school facilities to workout.

"It was tough, you know, because it was my last spring ball as a Tiger," said Gilbert, a team captain looking to build off a 7-4 season which included Frenship’s first playoff berth since 2016. "And to have it taken away from you is tough. You have to play with the cards your dealt."

A new routine

And it wasn’t a good hand by any means, but Gilbert knew there were bigger things at play to help slow the spread of the COVID-19.

"I was ready to get back to work. And to not be able to go up there," said Gilbert, who was coming off Spring Break and looking forward to starting spring ball soon after. "The best way to bond is to sweat and hurt with your teammates because it doesn’t feel good, but you’re in it together.

"This is when you get close with your team."

That togetherness was stripped away and replaced with social distancing. So, Gilbert did his best to improvise when strength and conditioning coach Aaron Uzzell sent out the workout plans.

"I have a curl barbell and a couple of weights. That’s about it," Gilbert said of his weight room. "And coach Uzzell send us body weight workouts since some of us don’t have all the equipment we would at the school.

"And they’re tough, those body weight workouts. Got as much work in as if I lifted weights. You do like six to eight exercises which includes pushups where you hold at the top for five seconds and 15 squats where you hold for five seconds and come up. It takes me about an hour and a half to finish it all."

Along with that schedule, Gilbert also runs everyday while playing basketball to keep his cardio up to par.

But, some of his teammates got a bit creative.

David Kirkpatrick, a junior defensive end, took a text from head coach Jay Northcutt asking for clips of his captains working out a bit too serious.

The 6-foot-1, 190-pound athlete looked around his backyard and found the heaviest item before he used it to complete a few lifts and some squats.

"All I saw was some rocks, which I knew weren’t that heavy, and then I saw a log," Kirpatrick said. "I’m a big Rocky fan, Rocky 4 to be exact and it was just like the training montage.

"We’ve all got to get creative with our workouts because we’re not able to have weights or go to the gym. I’ll admit, though, I didn’t know it was going to get sent to Twitter."

Ah yes, Kirkpatrick got a few friendly texts after his feat was shared with his teammates and the world on the social media platform.

"Yeah, Kirkpatrick and that log workout got the guys going," Gilbert said of his fellow captain. "You need things like that keep the energy up."

Idalou’s Jose Marmolejo said he’s also seen some interesting workouts from his teammates who text workouts to head coach Jeff Lofton to keep the entire Wildcats squad motivated.

"I’ve seen people use a barbeque grill to do high jumps," Marmolejo said. "No one’s missed, so far. But, it shows what we’re doing to stay in shape.

"It’s just difficult sometimes because the guys have their own jobs, and I completely understand. It is what it is, and we’re doing to do the best we can when we can workout."

An online locker room

After the workouts, there’s a lot of time to fill.

Gilbert admitted the Frenship athletes have occupied that time with a new type of social bonding: video games.

"Me and a lot of my friends like to Call of Duty and we have a lot of time on our hands and you can’t workout all day," Gilbert said. "And they get really competitive, especially when we meet up with other teammates."

Whether its team deathmatch, free-for-all, sabotage or any of the other game modes, Gilbert feels it’s the closest he can get to bonding with his teammates – sans the blood, sweat and tears.

"Yeah, that could be some of it," he said. "But mainly, with us, we bond with the laughs. It’s like a locker room where you can tell anybody anything. And you can be yourself with your teammates."

Kirkpatrick, who also said he’s enjoyed the extra time playing video games with his friends, believes it can also be a teaching tool as well.

"It’s weird, but you can build confidence in guys depending on the situation if you think of it that way," Kirkpatrick said when asked if wins and losses help the competitive drive. "It doesn’t really replace it, but Jake (Gilbert) is definitely right about it basically being a virtual locker room.

"You’re on your headset and you get to talk to your brothers. It’s not the same as being in the locker room, but I guess it’s a close replacement."

Marmolejo, a junior at Idalou, feels like it’s been a difficult adjustment, not only having UIL sports suspended for the moment but to also be unable to workout at the school facility.

"I’ve been using a backpack filled with pots and pans and other stuff," said Marmolejo, a center and defensive end for the Wildcats who compete in District 4-3A Division II in the fall. "It’s a weird feeling on your back and the same thing when you have to hold it in front of you.

"But, it’s weirder not being around other people who provide that competitive fire, you know? Now, you’re on your own and have to push yourself."

Hoping for the best

For the next several months, or more, Kirkpatrick and the rest of the Tigers will have to accept those interactions

"It’s just one of those things, nobody knows how long it could affect us," Gilbert said. "But, during this time, I want my teammates and myself to know that I gave it everything I had while I could instead of live in regret. You have to keep moving forward."

Kirkpatrick agreed.

"I really am looking forward to when things get back to normal because it will be a huge relief," he said. "After all this buildup, we’re all going to want to enjoy one last ride with the boys."

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